Does anyone else find it hard to understand the bible..?

Question

I believe in god but find it hard to understand what I am reading when reading the bible. please serious answers only.

Answer 1

act on what u do understand then more will be revealed to you ...

Answer 2

yup the bible is hard to understand, all you need to do is find out a materials that enable you to help you more understand the bible. We as Jehovah's witness is willing to give you that materials and also giving you a free bible study. Those materials we used is based in the bible.. Its likely youre getting a water in a deep well that needs something to get the water easily, WE are willing to help you. If you want you can visit our website at www.watchtower.org or e-mail me at [e-mail]. You find out MORE interesting reading the bible. CONTINUE your good work because God like it very much, a person who is spiritually minded. Matthew 5:3 please read that verse and the gift we have if we continue to find God's word (John 17:3)

Answer 3

Likely, in your reading of the Bible, you will find things that you do not understand. (2 Peter 3:16) An event recorded in the Bible book of Acts shows that this should be expected. Soon after the death of Jesus, an Ethiopian was reading from the prophecies of the Bible book of Isaiah. The Christian evangelist Philip met up with the man and asked: “Do you actually know what you are reading?” The Ethiopian did not, so he invited Philip to help him understand.—Acts 8:30, 31.
A lady in the United States was in a similar situation. She was a regular Bible reader, but there were many important teachings of the Bible that she had not come to understand from her own reading. It was only when she had discussions with Jehovah’s Witnesses that she learned of basic Bible truths, including the importance of God’s Kingdom and the many blessings that the Kingdom will bring to mankind. If you invite them to, Jehovah’s Witnesses will be happy to help you too so that you can better understand what you read in the Bible.
visit www.watchtower.org to request a free copy of "What Does the Bible Really Teach?"

Answer 4

Of Course we do, BUT (BIG BUT) there are these thingies called "Helps/Bible Handbooks" that along with the Holy Spirit, give Us Understanding. Like....if U went to visit a "Foreign Country" wouldn't U take a "Translation Dictionary" with U??? Go to the local Library & ck. out a Handbook (Halley's Bible Handbook is a good one) and read one of the Bible "Stories" along with the Handbook to "Amplify" & make it "Clear" to U. As the Bible spans such a WIDE Time Period, U will need to know what the Customs, Laws, Traditions, Politics etc. of the "Period" in which the Author is writing are, before U can Truly Understand it. Above All, Ur Attitude is very Important. That is, in Scripture we read: "But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him." James 1:5. Also, set aside a "Quiet Time" each day & stay with it. U'll be Amazed how much U will learn!!! John

Answer 5

Maybe you should find an easier translation.

I'm fond of the Good News Translation and the New Living Translation.

Those are both VERY easy to understand. Also the Amplified Bible which has words inserted in brackets that help connect sentences better.

Lots of folks enjoy "The Message" because it's in very contemporary terminology, but I've had both Catholics and Protestants tell me it's very New Age and should be avoided by good Christians.

You decide.

Just be sure you know which translation you want. Catholic or Protestant. They are not the same. NIV is Protestant. NAB (not nasb) is Catholic. Both are written at the 6th grade level.

Answer 6

You may be surprised to hear it or you may not want to hear it because of prejudice or what not...but if you are truly sincere about wanting to understand the Bible , then "babydoll", "lynn", and "megs" have it right. Nobody knows their Bibles better that JWs.

I'd like to commend you for reaching out...sometimes you have to exert some effort. Why don't you pray for help and keep an open mind? That's my $0.02

Answer 7

Hi,
It took me about 30+ years to learn all three Bible languages and also the customs and idioms, etc. of the time - but it was well worth it; today, I read from the original manuscripts of the Bible, and wow, when the languages are translated over to English, you wouldn't believe how much of the deeper thought gets lost in that attempt. There is so much more written than is evident even when you understand it in the English.
Anyway, I have only found ONE Church in over 35 years that teaches from the manuscripts, which is the only way you are gonna get the fuller thought and message conveyed - they teach chaper by chapter, line by line; it is college-level Bible study, and I suggest you call them, because you can get a free cd or cassette tape (your choice) that will get you started to understanding the Bible - it is absolutely essential that you start out with a good strong foundation on which to build on as you read thru the Scriptures. This tape will get you started out on the best possible track. You will receive it free of charge, not even postage is needed. You will NOT be contacted; you will NOT EVER be asked for donations, etc.
The Church is not in need of Bible students - they have millions of them. Also, they do not believe in asking for money. They are not beggars. They stand quite well on their own because a Church that truly does Gods work, you can bet God will see to its survival, without the necessity of begging or having telethons, etc.
They are truly a church of God. Their phone number for you to order the tape is: 1-800-643-4645; along with the tape, you will receive a full list of other tapes you can order - every Book of the Bible, and also other tapes for special studies,
which are real interesting and very helpful to your study.
With the help of the tapes, you will learn to study completely on your own - this is important, because remember that their won't be any Priest standing between you and God at judgement - it will be you and you alone, so you don't want to just listen to any Priest who "sounds good" or is "popular";
you want to know for yourself that you understand the truth thats written for yourself.
So call them - get the tape called "Mark of the Beast"
and I guarantee you that you will be very happy you did.
Also, you will get a list of tv stations in your area where you can see them on tv for a one hour Bible lesson 5 days per week, again, all they do is teach line by line, the Bible.
Some of the "textbooks" you will need, whether you decide to call that Church or not, I have listed here ( I insist all of my students have these to study with)
1. King James Bible and/or:
2. - The Companion Bible (published by Kepler, I believe).
This is a King James Bible, but with 190 appendix's that
are explanations of several things and its information
from the manuscripts that is extremely helpful.
3. Strongs Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible.
This lists every single word in the Bible, and takes it back to its original Greek, Hebrew, or Chaldee - so you get the fullest meaning thats being conveyed by the writer.
The latest "Strongs" published is called the "Strongest Strongs..."; thats fine, but MAKE SURE IT SAYS "EXHAUSTIVE" !!!!!!!
The regular King James, the Companion Bible, and the Strongs Exhaustive, all fit together like a tailor-made glove.

Get these books to help you to study, but I really suggest you help get a real kick-start by calling the number I gave to you.

Other thoughts: Try to free your mind of whatever you have been taught - I have students who come to me thinking that
Eve ate an apple and that all mankind is paying for Adam and Eve's sin. Wipe your mind clean, open it wide up, and then when you begin, read very slowly, being careful not to read over anything. Everything written in Gods Word, is written for a reason - if a name of a person or town is mentioned, go to the Strongs and find out what the full translation of it is, and you will find that there is information contained within it. Here is some things that people read right over in their Bible, and have no idea about:
-that Cain and Able were twins of separate fathers.
-Adam was not Cains father
-Satan has bloodline children on this Earth today.
-That there are three Earth ages taught by Peter; one that was, one that is now, and a final one to come, and that the Bible DOES NOT SAY THIS EARTH IS 6000 YRS. OLD, but instead it tells us this Earth is eons and eons in age.
-That the reason we are here in the flesh, is because alot of our people disappointed God in a great war Satan started over the throne of Christ.

I am sorry I have been so wordy - I hope you will take my
advice, because if you have the desire to learn the truth of what is written in Scripture, then the possibility is really high that you are one of the small group of Gods Elect who have eyes that see and ears that hear - all the rest, God tells us,
have been blinded. Perhaps you are a "set aside one".

Good luck in your studies and God bless you.

rt/j

Answer 8

Don't feel bad about it. it is very difficult to understand everything in the bible. And there are those who are only to please God with great devotion and divination through their actions and faith.

But you also have the choice of investigating and searching for hidden things in the bible, It is said that is God's greatness to hide great secrets and it is the work of Kings to find them out.

I find that the first is to grow discipline through the book of proverbs, then start by looking for easy things like it is the many revelations of Jesus in the old testament. then studying the new testament with the knowledge that Jesus came to make everything new, and that he was to talk to men and angels at the same time.

This would be a good beginning, if you want my help and opinion email me.

PS. do not read the bible in a rush of fanaticism, and don't forget to consider contextual history, logic and comprehension of Jesus intention to show us what God is truly, like in love, mercy and justice.

Answer 9

No, it's not hard to understand. Think of it this way: The bible is a bunch of ancient writings thrown together with multiple goals. Some we meant to be a primitive record (the begats, for instance); some were bragging fantasies about war victories, and some were written with the specific goal of scaring you into being controlled.

It would help if you read a modern translation that was accurate, unfortunately, many try to gloss over ancient practices we'd find horrid today.

Answer 10

"The spirit of truth leads you into all truth, even the deep things of God." Read the whole thing and the spirit will have something to work with. The word reprogams your brain. These are times when many are getting in contact with their intuition and using the whole brain, as it takes that much power to get the whole picture. After all that is a lot to ask for ten percent of the brain to handle and the subconscious deals in pictures. The words give you a picture.

Answer 11

If you mean the language and vocabulary itself is hard to understand, it might be because you're reading the King James Version of the bible, which was translated in the 1600's and uses a lot of "Thees" and "Thous". I'd suggest getting a copy of the New International Version (NIV), since the language is much more modern and easier to understand.